Automatic control of water-tight doors.



w; L MERRILL. AUTOMATIC CONTROL 'OF WATER TIGHT DOORS.

' v I "APPLIOATION FIL-ED'O0T.15,1906. 941 128. Patented N0ir.30,1909.

llHlllllllllllllllllllllll IIIIHIIIUIIIIIIlllllllw WHnesses ITXVQWfdIf, m M Wilbur 14. Merrill.,

To all whom it may concern:

Hanna. 1.. MEERELL,

UITD SATES PATENT OFFICE.

OF SOHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPATBIY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

I AUTOMATIC CONTROL OF WATER-TIGHT DOORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 30, 1909,

Application filed October 15, 1906. Serial No. 338,897.

Be it known that I, WILBUR L. MERRILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of'New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Control of \Vater-Tight Doors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the protection of ships provided with water-tight bulk-head.

doors and hatches, and its ObJGCt is to provide means for closing the doors automatically in case of an emergency.

My invention consists in providin a device possessing high inertia,'which is held normally in a given position during ordinary movements of the ship, with means operated by the movement of thedevice from its normal position for closing the doors More specifically stated, I employ a. pendulum provided with centering sprmgs adapted to resist the strains due to the ordinary movements of the ship, but proportioned to allow the pendulum to move in case the ship runs aground, collides with another vessel, or receives an unusual shock from any cause. In the case of doors provided with power-operating mechanism, a simple arrangement for controlling the doors from the pendulum consists in placing a series of contacts around the pendulum so as to be operated when the pendulum is moved from its normal position, with a magnet in circuit with the contacts controlling the power-operated mechanism of the doors.

My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawin s, in which Figure 1 shows diagrammatical y an automatic bulk-head door control, arranged in accordance with my invention, the automatic controlling device being shown in plan view; and Fig. 2 shows an elevation in cross section of the controlling device.

In the drawings, A represents a heavy pendulum, which issnspended .as shown in Fig. 2, so as to be free to move in any dimotion, but which. is normally restrained in the position shown by centering springs B,

These springs are stilt enough to resist ordinary strains, such as arise in the ordinaryrolling of the ship,butin case of an extraordinary shock on the ship the pendulum will move from. its usual position, straining the centering springs. Snrrounding the when it moves in any direction from its central position. Each plunger is arranged,- when pushed outward, to bridge a pair of stationary contacts 0, and thereby to close the circuit of a magnet D. This magnet sets in motion the operatingmechanism for the door E. The operating mechanism is shown diagrammatically, as consisting of a motor F gearedto the door, a motor-controlling switch G, and'a magnet H controlled by the magnet 1),. and arranged to shift the controlling switch G so as to start the motor for closing the doors. Although for the sake of simplicity I have shown only'a sin is door it will be understood that as many oors an hatches as desired may be controlled by a single magnet D.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,--

1. In combination with a water-tight door i' I or hatch on board ship, operating means for said door or hatch arranged to close the same, and controlling means therefor 0 erated by a sudden vanation of motion o the.

shlp

or hatch on board ship, a movable device possessing high inertia, means for holding sgid device fixed during ordinary movements 0 the of said device during sudden variation of motion of the ship, and means 0 erated by the movement of said device for c osing said v door.

4. In combination with a water-tight door i I or hatch on board ship, a movable device ship but permitting movement.

2. In combination with a water-tight door possessing hi h inertia, means for holding said device ments of the ship, switch contacts arranged to be operated by the movement of said device, an electro-magnet in circuit with said tro-magnet for closing said door.

- 5. In combination with a water-tight door xed during ordinary, movecontacts, and means controlled by said elecdevice possessing high inertia, means for holding said device fixed during ordinary movements of the ship, switch contacts arranged to be operated by the movement of said device, an electro-magnet in circuit with said contacts, and operative connections between said magnet and said power-operated mechanism.

(3. In combination with a water-tight door or hatch on board ship, an electric motor geared thereto, a movable device possessing high inertia, means for holding said device fixed during ordinary movements of the ship, switch contacts arranged to be operated by the movement of said device, an electro-magnet in circuit With said contacts, and a switch controlled by said magnet and controlling said motor.

7. In combination with a water-tight door or hatch on board ship, a pendulum, centering springs therefor adapted to resist ordinary movements of the ship but permitting movement upon sudden variation of motion of the ship, and means 0 erated by the movement of the pendulum or closin said door.

8. In combination with a water-tightdoo or hatch on board ship, a pendulum, centering springs therefor adapted to resist ordinary movements of the ship but permitting movement upon sudden variation of motion of the ship, switch contacts arranged to be operated by the movement of said pendulum, an electromagnet in circuit with said contacts, and means controlled by said mag;- net for closing said door.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto sct my hand this 13th day of October, 1906.

WILBUR L. MERRILL.

\Vitnesses BENJA MIN B. H ULL, l Imam )1: com). 

